Rotary Great Britain & Ireland (RGBI) initialy announced a 12-month partnership with Carers UK back in June 2020 (read more here). Last June, the partnership was extended for another year (see here). This is especially important with the added burden and concerns placed on carers during the pandemic. “The research also found that unpaid carers are having to cope with reduced support from health and care services, as well as from their own friends and family during the pandemic, with carers losing, on average, 25 hours of support per month they had prior to the pandemic.”
Carers UK provides a range of information and support for unpaid carers including:
● A Helpline and expert support service
● Advice on financial and practical matters related to caring
● A website with a varied range of information about specific aspects of caring
● Up-to-date COVID-19 guidance for carers
● Online meetup sessions with fellow carers
You can contact their helpline 0808 808 7777, Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm or contact Carers UK by email advice@carersuk.org at any time.
Alternatively,you can also find guidance on the Carers UK website: www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice
If you are an unpaid carer or know someone who is, please sign up* or encourage the person you know to sign up to be a Carers UK member here: https://www.carersuk.org/how-you-can-help/join-us
You will then receive your membership details which will allow you to log into the Carers UK Forum.
Membership is free and it will provide a range of services, including access to the Carers UK Forum, where carers can ask questions and share their experience with fellow carers.
*When signing up, please tick the “Through Rotary GB&I” box on the application in response to “Where did you hear about joining Carers UK?”.
Also, if you know of local organisations that might help unpaid carers, please email their details to rotarycarersukpartnership@gmail.com
(Sent on behalf of Martin Low, Immediate Past President of Sidcup Rotary Club District 1120 Lead and Deputy Nation Lead England Rotary GB&I Carers UK Partnership).
